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In the food and pharmaceutical industries, color helps determine the quality, safety, and consistency of products. For example, a tomato sauce that is too pale is unsellable. Tablet pills that are supposed to be white, and turn yellow, are a safety issue. Similarly, juice that is supposed to be brown, but is instead too dark, is also a problem. These issues need to be addressed before the products reach the customer.
In both food and drug manufacturing, color measurement and management are extremely important. Instead of simply relying on employees to visually examine products, many companies make use of color measurement tools. These tools allow for objective color measurement which is used to record and compare each batch of products to an approved standard. This helps employees to identify and eliminate the risk of product recalls and rejections.
Why Choosing a Colorimeter is Important for the Food and Drug Industry
Food and pharmaceutical products come in a variety of different forms including; liquids, powders, pastes, solids, granules and tablets. Each one is a different measurement challenge. For example, turning a liquid into a measured beverage is a lot different than measuring a powdered spice, or a coated tablet. Choosing the wrong measuring instrument for the job results in inaccurate measuring and therefore affects the decision making process and the end product’s quality.
Possibly more important than quality measurement is the regulatory compliance of the measurement’s in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Most food products must fit into a specific regulatory compliance and trade requirements based on their color measurement. In the pharmaceutical industry, if the color of a tablet is different from the expected color, it could mean that the tablet is damaged or that it contains contamination. These all could have serious safety concerns.
When your quality team has the right measuring instrument it means that they can work with confidence, identify a problem before it affects the end product, and reduce waste and ultimately work to fulfill the expectations of the customers and regulatory agencies.
What Are Things To Keep In Mind When Picking a Colorimeter in the Food and Drug Sector
Understanding your production process needs is the first step in choosing an instrument. Think of a beverage manufacturer who is determining the color of liquids. Their needs are different from those of a pharmaceutical lab that is trying to determine the uniformity of tablet coatings. A flour producer will need different things than a meat processor when it comes to monitoring the freshness of meat.
Ask yourself the the following questions. In what state is my product? Is it solid, liquid, paste, or a powder? Am I required to do transmission measurements? How many samples does my team measure per shift? Having clear answers to these questions will help ensure you choose the best instrument.
Color standards in the Food and Drug Industry
Color in the food and drug industry is measured with the CIE Lab color standard and uses delta E as the main indicator of color variance. However, other indexes may be used including:
- Yellowness Index (YI) — Registering discoloration of oils, fats, and excipients in pharmaceuticals
- Whiteness Index (WI) — Used in the color measurement of flour, sugar, dairy products, and white coatings of tablets.
- Gardner Color Scale — For measuring color in liquid foods, oils, and resins
- APHA/Hazen Scale — For measuring color in pharmaceuticals and beverages
Any instrument must have the ability to compare the sample data to stored standards and return an obvious pass/fail verdict.
Measuring Device’s Accuracy and Precision
For production applications, look to achieve ΔE ≤ 0.05 or better. For this type of measurement laboratory and R&D type applications, aim for ΔE ≤ 0.02. The D/8 integrates matte powders, and irregular surface including opaque and clear liquids. Additionally, an instrument with transmissive modes is needed for clear liquids.
Measuring Device’s Portability and Ease of Use
For product line color measurement functionality, portable handheld measuring devices achieve this and have simplified the process to one button that measures and displays pass/fail results. However, for the laboratory environment where measurement results require more detailed consideration, documentation, and data analysis, a more sophisticated color measurement device with software and data measurement, and analysis is required.
Analysis of Measurement Range and Adaptability
- 8mm aperture – for solid food items, powders, coated tablets, and packaged products
- Large aperture (20mm+) – for granular products such as grains, spices, and sugar
- Transmission mode – for juices, oils, syrups, and pharmaceutical solutions
- Powder accessories – to obtain consistent results with loose powder and fine granular powders
Analysis of the Software and Data Management Options
Streamlined software includes standards by color, comparisons by batch, definitions by tolerance, and QC reports done automatically. With software, data needs a timestamp because records in the pharmaceutical industry need to be able to be traced. The software needs to be simple to use and simple for the production team to export the data to excel or csv.
Check for Options for Calibration and requirements for maintenance
Most devices with white tile calibration take less than a minute. Look for devices that have measurement ports and calibration tiles that can be cleaned easily. For compliance with regulations, manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry will need documented and traceable calibration certificates.
Consider Pricing, Warranty, and After Sales Service
Basic portable colorimeters range from $800 to $2000. Colorimeters with transmission features in the mid-range are priced from $3000 to $8000. Laboratory grade colorimeters are priced higher than this range. Always check for warranty coverage, local maintenance, and technical support and software upgrades.
3nh Color Measurement Tools in Food and Drug Industry
3nh offers a practical line of measurement tools used in color measurement in food and Pharmaceuticals industry such as:
- Portable Colorimeter NH310. This portable colorimeter contains an 8 mm aperture, and D/8 geometry of ΔE ≤ 0.03, and is used for measuring color of solid food items, powders, and packaged products easily and quickly on production line.
- Precision Colorimeter NR20XE. This colorimeter has a 20 mm aperture, and is used for measuring color and giving better and accurate, consistent results for foods of a granular nature such as flour, sugar, grain, and spice.
- Benchtop Spectrophotometer YS6060. This spectrophotometer has reflective and transmissive measuring modes with auto aperture. This is used for measuring color of food liquids, drinks, edible oil, pharmaceutical syrup and solution, as well as measuring Yellowness Index, Whiteness Index, and Gardner color. All can be done in one measurement.
- Grating Spectrophotometer TS7700. This is a highly precise spectrophotometer which has repetitiveness at ΔEab ≤ 0.03, and measures yellowness index and whiteness index. It is intended for food ingredient laboratories and pharmaceutical QC where a broad range of data and tight tolerances are required.
- Portable Colorimeter NR60CP. This colorimeter is equipped with D/8 geometry and SCI mode with mobile app management. It is designed for basic color quality measurement for food and agricultural products while in warehousing and field practice.
3nh provides a full range of colorimeters, spectrophotometers, and liquid chroma meters tailored for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical quality control, covering solids, powders, granules, and liquids, and meeting strict regulatory standards (e.g., pharmacopoeia, GMP, food safety)3nh. Below are the most recommended models:
1. Portable Colorimeters (On-site / Production Line QC)
For fast color difference checks on solid foods, tablets, capsules, and packaging.
- NR60CP Precision Colorimeter
o Apertures: Switchable Φ8mm / Φ4mm for large surfaces and small details (e.g., pill logos)3nh.
o Accuracy: ΔEab < 0.03, high repeatability3nh.
o Use Case: Daily QC for snacks, confectionery, tablets, and softgels.
- NR145 Precision Colorimeter
o Optics: 45°/0° geometry, consistent with visual perception3nh.
o Features: Fast measurement, built-in calibration, dual positioning3nh.
o Use Case: Food ingredients, baked goods, and general pharmaceutical solids3nh.
- NH310 Portable Colorimeter
o Apertures: Φ8mm / Φ4mm switchable, 8°/d integrating sphere3nh.
o Use Case: Economical, reliable for routine food and pharma color checks3nh.
2. Spectrophotometers (Lab-Grade Precision & Regulatory Compliance)
For R&D, color matching, spectral analysis, and meeting pharmacopoeia / food safety standards.
- YS3060 / YS3010 Grating Spectrophotometers
o Technology: Full spectrum (360–780nm), D/8 integrating sphere, SCI/SCE.
o Performance: ΔEab ≤ 0.02, data traceable to national metrology.
o Use Case: High-end food R&D, pharmaceutical formulation, and brand color standardization.
- ST700D / ST700D Plus
o Apertures: 5 interchangeable sizes (Φ8, Φ4, 1×3mm) for diverse surfaces.
o Features: UV measurement for fluorescent additives, non-contact auto-calibration.
o Use Case: Lab testing for processed foods, coated tablets, and complex packaging.
- TS8210 Benchtop Spectrophotometer
o Performance: ΔEab ≤ 0.025, with national metrology certification.
o Versatility: Measures solids, powders, granules, and pastes.
o Use Case: Lablevel quality control for food contact materials and pharmaceutical packaging.
3. Liquid Chroma Meters (For Beverages & Liquid Pharmaceuticals)
Specialized for transmittance color measurement of juices, syrups, oils, injections, and oral solutions3nh.
- TS4020 Liquid Spectrophotometer
o Optics: D/0 structure, fullspectrum LED, Φ40mm integrating sphere3nh.
o Indices: Transmittance, PlatinumCobalt (PtCo), Gardner, Saybolt, Pharmacopoeia (ChP, EP, USP), EBC, ICUMSA
o MicroMeasurement: Supports 1mL microsample testing.
o Use Case: Edible oils, fruit juices, beer, sugar solutions, and pharmaceutical injections3nh.
- YS60 Series Benchtop Liquid Color Analyzers
o Spectrum: 360–780nm with UV capability.
o Function: Reflectance + transmittance measurement for liquid and semisolid samples.
o Use Case: Lab analysis of syrups, creams, and liquid pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
In the food and pharmacy factories, the products dictate the use of different colorimetric devices, the methods of measurements, and the determining measurements of quality. Most food manufacturing companies who do regular quality control assessments use portable D/8 colorimeter devices with an 8mm and above an aperture, and ΔE ≤ 0.03 for repeatability. For the assessment of the liquid food products, devices that have the transmission mode are the most favorable. In the control of the food products and pharmacy products laboratories, the requirements are even stricter, and a benchtop spectrophotometer is a must to be able to assess the complete spectral information of your team’s yellowness/whiteness index and documented compliance to the calibration standards so that they can assess with confidence and legally.
FAQs
What color meter is most appropriate for testing the color of food?
For the analysis of color of solid, liquid, and powder forms of food materials, D/8 integrating sphere colorimeters are recommended.
Can the same instrument be used for food and pharmaceutical samples?
Yes, the 3nh YS6060 can measure the properties of yellowness, whiteness, and Gardner color index, which makes it useful for food and pharmaceutical samples.
What color indices are used in quality control for food and pharmaceutical items?
Depending on the type of product, some of the most common quality control color indices are CIE Lab, ΔE, Yellowness Index, Whiteness Index, Gardner Color, and APHA/Hazen.
Do pharmaceutical manufacturers need to have specific calibration documents?
Yes, for regulations to be adhered to, documented calibrations that are traceable are required.